Skate Psychology II

The cyclical process described above finds expression at three successive levels of progress:
a) beginner: where one struggles to understand and land a particular trick;
b) intermediate: where one lands the trick with consistency but only with effort and focus;
c) advanced: where the ability to perform the trick has become so ingrained that the individual performs it with little effort and concentration and can therefore focus on adding to the trick by combining it with other tricks, performing it with variations, or as part of a sequence of tricks, etc.

These three stages relate to three human qualities described in Kabbalah: Netzach [Victory], Hod [Surrender], and Yesod [Bonding]. As a beginner one feels challenged by the trick since ignorance, weak muscles, and the lack of experience - among other hurdles - must all be overcome for one to successfully perform the trick. One expresses Netzach - the will to struggle and to triumph.

Having learnt to land the trick, one proceeds to attain consistency by performing the trick over and over again. This stage requires dedication to the established formula for success. One expresses Hod -  surrender.

After much successful repetition, a trick becomes so easy to perform that it - and the board while the trick is being performed - becomes an extension of one's own being. At this point one has developed the quality of Yesod with the particular trick and is bonding with it, at one with it. At this point there's no need for struggle, not even for devotion, for in true unity there is no resistance; one is in the flow...